Smurf in orbit

A Smurf in space: Sounds like a new movie, but it actually was a unique science project for many Lehman Intermediate seventh- and eighth-grade students with science teacher Joseph Fluhr.

MELANIE VANDERVEER

Sounds like a new movie, but it actually was a unique science project for many Lehman Intermediate seventh- and eighth-grade students with science teacher Joseph Fluhr.

"I had always been interested in space since I was a little kid and had dreams of becoming an astronaut," he said. "My parents had gotten me a little astronaut Smurf and space shuttle. I used to put him in the shuttle and run him around. He was my favorite toy. As I got older, my toys got bigger, and I joined a high-powered-rocket club. I would strap the Smurf in with duct tape, and he took thousands of rides into the sky."

Years after the tiny Smurf's maiden voyage into the sky, he got the opportunity to travel further into space than Fluhr ever could imagine — 53 million miles.

"I got into the hobby of space memorabilia. I'm on a VIP mailing list for a company in Germany, and they sent a letter saying they have developed an association with a Russian cosmonaut and he can take something with him on his next mission to the International Space Station," said Fluhr. "I said, how about my Smurf?"

That's when the long process began. While the original agreement was to send only a flat item, such as a photograph or letter, to space, it was agreed upon sending the Smurf.

"Fluhr said he sent the Smurf on Nov. 12, 2011, along with a photograph of all the students in a collage. "I kept my fingers crossed," Fluhr said.

The journey wasn't without some interesting issues and road blocks.

"The Smurf was seized by German customs agents, detained for a short time and then released."

Eventually it got to to the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia. They then placed him in the personal belongings pack, Fluhr said. "The launch was originally slated for March 30, 2012, but they had an accident during a test. May 15, 2012 is when they launched to the International Space Station."

The Smurf was traveling with two Russian cosmonauts and one American astronaut. He was in space for a total of 125 days. While at the Space Station, photos were taken of the Smurf and the photo collage of the students.

"We got him back a few weeks ago. The thing that blows me away is that this small object went 53 million miles and it came back delivered into my mailbox," said Fluhr. "There were so many people involved and millions of miles. And they took the time to take pictures on the (space station) observation deck."

The science project began a topic of discussion in other Lehman Intermediate classrooms. Math, English and social studies teachers brought the details of the project into their classes to expand the children's knowledge on the process, and it even made a television news feature segment recently.

"Expeditions 31 is the same expedition that Howard on the show 'Big Bang Theory' went on in the show," said Fluhr. "We launched four days after the 'Big Bang Theory' episode aired."

Fluhr also said that many adults who grew up watching the Smurfs TV show and reading the books might find this project a great ending to the old story about the Smurf wanting to be an astronaut.

"The original Astrosmurf book and Smurfs cartoon episode had a Smurf dreaming of going to the stars," said Fluhr. "That Smurf built a rocket, but it never was able to fly. Because he was so heartbroken, the other Smurfs had to trick him into believing his rocket worked and he went to space, even though it never left the ground. They moved the spacecraft to an extinct volcano and dressed up as aliens. My Astrosmurf actually did get to space."

The kids in the school are fully aware of how rare this opportunity was, and they all had great things to say.

"Last year, when I was in seventh grade, Mr. Fluhr sent the Smurf to Russia. When I started eighth grade, it was still gone," said Kristyn Walker, an eighth-grade student. "I thought it was cool. It's not every day your average science teacher gets to send a Smurf to space. It was a cool experience to hold something that came from space."

Daniela Castro, also an eighth-grader, was proud of the journey.

"I knew I would have Mr. Fluhr as a teacher and was excited, because my sister was in the class that sent the Smurf up," Castro said. "I was really proud of him."

Alyssa Wetklow, another eighth-grader, said she thought it was unbelievable and not something that happens every day.

Monica Hess, a new transfer, had just started at the school and missed being a part of the whole experience, but said it's still really exciting being in Fluhr's class.

"It was cool that someone here was able to get something into space. It was amazing just sitting in his class with all the pictures," she said. "I'm happy I'm here to see all of this. I didn't feel like I missed anything because I'm here to see it now."

It will be tough for Fluhr to follow this project.

"Getting your kids' pictures to space is big. I can't imagine outdoing this," he said. "Maybe one day I can arrange a flight to the moon or Mars or beyond."

Lehman Intermediate will have the display case filled with photos and items from the Smurf's adventure in space on display for the rest of the school year. Fluhr plans to do a presentation at the Pike County Historical Society on the project and would ultimately like to see all the memorabilia displayed in a museum. And with the second Smurf movie set to hit theaters later this year, Fluhr feels this is a great time for the world to hear all about his own Smurf's amazing space journey.